Elementary Schools in Atwater, California: 8 schools. Average score 6.9 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
Atwater, California has 8 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 31.9/100 — 6.9 points below the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Thomas Olaeta Elementary at 47/100, where 23.7% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Atwater schools average 16.1% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Chronic absenteeism averages 9.5% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Start with your child’s school level
The overview describes elementary schools. The lists below separate elementary, middle and high schools, so each school’s standing stays within its own comparison group. Open a profile to see the underlying results, student support and questions to ask on a visit.
Every school in Atwater
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (8)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Olaeta Elementary Atwater Elementary | 23.7% | 72nd percentile · SolidScope Score 47/100 |
| 2 | Juniper Elementary Atwater Elementary | 18.6% | 55th percentile · SolidScope Score 38/100 |
| 3 | Mitchell Elementary Atwater Elementary | 15.3% | 53rd percentile · SolidScope Score 37/100 |
| 4 | Elmer Wood Elementary Atwater Elementary | 18.5% | 50th percentile · SolidScope Score 36/100 |
| 5 | Aileen Colburn Elementary Atwater Elementary | 14.0% | 36th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 31/100 |
| 6 | Bellevue Elementary Atwater Elementary | 15.2% | 31st percentile · DevelopingScope Score 29/100 |
| 7 | Shaffer Elementary Atwater Elementary | 12.5% | 14th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 22/100 |
| 8 | Peggy Heller Elementary Atwater Elementary | 10.7% | 5th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 17/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Atwater Community Merced County Office of Education court and community school | 0.0% | Not ranked |
High Schools (2)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buhach Colony High Merced Union High | 12.7% | 43rd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 51/100 |
| 2 | Atwater High Merced Union High | 9.8% | 32nd percentile · DevelopingScope Score 47/100 |
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Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
Elementary school archetypes in Atwater
Hidden gems: 1 school in Atwater is classified as On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology